Pastor’s Notes October 2008

“OCTOBER IS CHURCH STAFF APPRECIATION MONTH”

In some church traditions, October is the month for clergy appreciation. During the month, a given day is set aside to say thanks to the minister for his or her service in the life of a congregation. In such celebrations, the affirmation serves as nourishment of the relationship between clergy and congregant, offering a venue for a word of thanks to happen. Such occasions can be quite helpful to the minister when navigating the congregation through other times in the church year, when the schedule is hectic and stressful. That word of “thanks!” echoes year-round!

Given the unique nature of First Baptist’s time of transition, I am keenly aware that words of thanks should not be reserved for the “full-time” staff. We are in a process of changing the congregation, realigning its ministries, and bringing about a variety of new initiatives. Some of that work has been on my plate, alongside the traditional tasks of parish ministry, however, I do not want to slight for even a moment the work of First Baptist’s staff. We have a variety of persons employed by First Baptist who need likewise appreciation for their efforts, who bring the congregation’s programming to life and enable our physical plant to hum with activity! This month, will you join in saying “Thank you!” and offer other kind and affirming words to your church staff? On Sunday, October 21, we will spend part of our worship service recognizing the church staff as part of a celebration of the congregation’s ministry. In the meantime, can you help us prepare for this special day by saying “Thank you!” to our staff?

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We’re “Lifting” Our Spirits!

Speaking of celebrations, would you join us for a special Sunday celebration on November 2, 2008? On this Sunday, we will celebrate the installation of a new lift that brings fuller accessibility to the Nichols building. We will dedicate this new lift along with our recently installed handicapped bathroom as part of our continuing efforts to improve the building and make our faith community more accessible to all who enter our doors! We will “reacquaint” you with the upstairs part of our building and share some of the hopes and dreams for “both floors” of the church. (And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to be among the first to ride the new lift!)

This lift brings to life the second floor of the Nichols building, part of the church building that has been fallow and underutilized. I recollect my first visit to First Baptist back in January 2006, and I do not remember being given a tour of the second floor. The first time I visited the second floor, I found rooms with chipping paint, odds and ends piled in certain areas, and a general sense of disuse (save the wonderful Godly Play room set up at one end of the hall). One classroom still had some writing on the chalkboard that read: “Happy Easter!”

Looking back at these memories with the lift going in and some new and exciting initiatives in the wings, I remember that chalkboard message with a smile. It is the first time I think we can say we’re thankful for “reading the handwriting on the wall”! A congregation now enabled to use its building more fully--what a wonderful sign of God bringing new life in our midst!

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Words to Ponder

The adult Sunday school will be meeting throughout the fall and spring for two ten-week stretches, going through a curriculum called “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations”. This educational material is written with congregations just like First Baptist firmly in mind: churches that have numerically declined in recent years and who are earnestly seeking ways to rejuvenate the ministry of their congregations. Quite honestly, there are books, videos, workshops, seminars, and websites galore out there with ideas about how to bring about congregational renewal. I selected this particular curriculum because I believe it is challenging. I believe that if the congregation works at this material for the next several months, we will experience some good conversation and some new life along the way!

These five “practices” of the church are addressed by United Methodist bishop Robert Schnase, a wise and thoughtful church leader who has some very encouraging stories to share about God at work in congregations just like First Baptist! Schnase believes that churches excel when they carry out five key practices of radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and renewal, and extravagant generosity. We are addressing the latter two first, given that we are in the fall, when thoughts turn to 2009 planning, the budgetary process, and stewardship efforts. We are in the middle of some great conversations about what makes First Baptist, a historically mission minded church, able to be “risk taking” in its mission and service.

One bit of Bishop Schnase’s writing is too provocative just to leave in the curriculum guidebook. I leave you with a few words to ponder. Schnase writes,

Churches that practice Risk-Taking Mission and Service are dissatisfied an offended (for Christ’s sake!) by the abuse of children; the suffering of the innocents; the oppression of the poor; and the recurring cycles of addiction, violence, and injustice around them. They hear in the human need of their neighbors the distinct call of God. Against all odds, they figure out a response and offer themselves faithfully and genuinely, even at some cost to themselves. God uses them to transform the world.

Does this sound like First Baptist? O Lord, may it be so!